Letter to Santa 

2.  Look at your list and decide: 

What is the message, the main idea I want to explain/narrate/persuade to my audience about my topic:

to persuade santa to choose my letter

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Use our message idea to write a topic sentence:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Prewrite Interesting Ideas with elaboration:

Elaboaration (5Es) includes:

• elaborate: add more details

• explain: explain your idea

• experience: tell some experiences about your idea

• evidence: add evidence to prove your idea

• example: give examples (For instance, For example)

Think about your message. Write a new list or choose your ideas from your idea prewriting lists with nifty nouns and a list of details for each main idea. Choose one or more from your prewriting idea list, depending on how you want to present your request to Santa. Do you want a series of things or memories?  Do you have one special wish?  Always ask yourself: Am I adding to my message?

Your ideas with nifty nouns:    | Make a list with nifty nouns that elaborates on your idea-- what details (5Es) will thoroughly explain your idea to Santa

4. Prewriting for strong verbs

Look at your message and ideas.  Have you written nifty, specific nouns?  List the nouns you will write about, and then list strong, vivid, ACTIVE verbs for each noun.  Always ask yourself: Am I adding to my message?

Idea Nouns or Noun Phrases                            |  Strong Verbs or Verb Phrases

Digital camera                                                            will snap shots of my Grandma to save for my family

5. Organize.

Look at your ideas. Number them in a logical order.  Think about transition words.

Dare:

Dare to write a first draft.

Now especially: Always ask yourself: Am I adding to my message?

Look at your prewriting. Reread your work.  Think about your message.  Start writing your letter.  Use many details, nifty nouns, and vivid verbs.

Repair:

Repair your writing with revision.

How can you add a grabber beginning? 

• ask a question
• tell a story in two-three sentences that introduces your idea
• give an interesting fact

Reread your writing -- revise for:

• Names -- add precise words --nifty nouns
• Details -- detailed elaboaration -- more evidence
• Action -- strong verbs
• Organization (flow) -- logical organization with transition words 
• Varied sentences -- different lengths and different beginnings
• Interesting Language -- use figurative language (alliteration, consonance, assonance, simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, etc.)

How can you end your writing in an interesting way?

• Restate your message
• Give an example
• Tell what will happen because of your message.
• Ask a question

Review:

• Have I stayed on topic?
• Have I written to my audience?
• Have I written to my purpose?
• Am I convincing -- did I create interesting mind movies for the audience?

Proofread your writing:

• Edit for spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar, paragraphing, margins, legibility, etc.

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Publish your writing in a final draft.